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A.- D. HOFFMAN. Temporary Binder.

No, 225,012. Patented Mar. 2,1880 v NY PETERS, PHOTO-UFHQGRAPHER.WASHINGTON. D, C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN D. HOFFMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM A. AMBERG,OF SAME PLACE.

TEMPORARY BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,012, dated March 2,1880.

Application filed November 1, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

- State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Letter-Files,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that kind of letter-files in which an indexcomposed of loose leaves marked at one edge with the letters of thealphabet or other suitable designatingcharacters is contained in anopen-top box or case and held down by spring-pressure from above; andthe invention consists in the peculiar device for producing thespring-pressure, so constructed that it may be raised and automaticallyheld in a raised position.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of the apparatus show-,

ing the spring in different positions. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views ofthe hinge for the spring.

In the said drawings, A represents the opeutop box or case, consistingof a bottom piece, a back piece, and two side pieces. B is theindex,-composed of sheets having marginal designating-letters. Thesesheets are loosely secured in the box by means of a T-shaped projectionat the back of each sheet fitting into a slot in the back part, in themanner shown in Ambergs patent,heretotore granted; or the said sheetsmay be secured within the case in any known method, so that they willrise and accommodate the letters or other papers to be filed between thesheets.

0 is the spring-holder, consisting, preferably, of a wire arm, (shown inFigs. 1 and2,) and having about its middle a depression, 0, the purposeof which is to allow the arm of the person using the file to be passedthrough, in order that his left hand may reach the front edge of theindex when the spring-arm is raised, so that by his left hand he canraise the index-leaves while inserting papers or letters with the righthand.

The two ends of the wire arm are bent to form a crank, as shown moreclearly at Figs. 3 and 4. The outer end of each crank is furnished witha small friction-roller, d.

Spring-metal hinge-pieces E are provided,

and upwardly into a book form.

one for each end of the wire arm. The construction of this hinge-pieceis quite clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which represent one of them intwo positions.

Each of these hinge-pieces consists of two leaves, 6 and 6. Of these,one, 6, has its lower extremity bent to inclose the first rectangularpart or bend of the wire arm, making thereof a pivot. The other leaf, 6,is bent outwardly Against this last-mentioned leaf 6 rides the smallroller above mentioned.

Now, when the spring-wire arm is down upon the index, as shown at Fig.1, the action of the two spring-leaves, in the position shown at Fig. 3,is such as to keep it down with considerable force, one leaf actingagainst the other through the crank upon the arm. However, when the wirearm is raised in the position shown at Fig. 2, then .the roller 01 ridesdown into the hook upon the leaf 6, and the action of the spring is suchas to keep the arm held up in the position shown at Fig. 2.

By this simple construction I am enabled to dispense entirely with thecomplicated arrangements sometimes used for producing a pressure uponthe index, and obtain the further advantage of an automatically-heldspring.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of myinvention, that which I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,1s-- 1. The combination, with the case and index-leaves, of aspring-arm, bent at its middle portion to form an opening through whichthe operators arm may be passed in handling the index, substantially asspecified.

2. The combination, with the arm 0, or a like arm, having cranked ends,of a two-leaved spring-hinge, the leaves whereof act against each otherupon the crank in the manner specified, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. The combination of the arm 0, having cranked ends, with the rollers dand the two-

